About By the way… An Open Letter to My African American Son (and cheat sheet of fatherly advice):
This book will be free from Feb 28 – Mar 4 on Amazon. In return, I kindly ask for reviews.
If you would like to reach out to me directly, you can email me at geeccompany@gmail.com.
And now, about the book:
This book is based on a simple concept. If I were to die before my son was old enough for me to relay key ideas, concepts, and ideas, this document would serve as my voice. The pace is smooth and appropriate over the course of the chapters. Even while tackling controversial issues like police and drugs, this tone allows for the absorption of ideas and concepts without losing the intensity of those moments.
As this book is written as a note from a father to a son, the book starts with dad establishing the identity and relationship between father and son. This is followed by an explanation for why this book was written. After an additional message about how to use this advice, the book progresses in three parts. The first part is called You. The chapters tell stories, anecdotes, and provide advice that helps the son understand himself, what that means, and how to be a better person. The second part, Future Prosperity, comprises two chapters, one on education, and the other on career. These two chapters are designed to demonstrate how and why to achieve high professional and personal performance. The final part is called The World You Live In. This section tackles some very profound and topical subjects like race, protests, police, immigration, politics, religion, and other hot button issues. Essentially, the dad wants the son to gain insight on how to navigate these issues without negative repercussions. The book is written so that anyone reading it feels as though they are a fly on the wall while a father is giving life lessons to his son. As such, it is an insight that most people would never get to experience.
There is a natural flow to this book. The impact of life on the dad, with respect to these topics, can be felt in the dad’s voice. Yet, the structure of the chapters allow for a natural flow that allows for energy when necessary, but pulls the veracity of the topic back to allow for absorption and transition. The dad is conscious not to bear down on issues as to discourage the son from those aspects of life. While interjecting stories, ideas, and requests as part of the ‘Random Dad Notes’ section at the end of each chapter, the dad creates a natural break and, at times, levity.
This book is one that begs for one more page. The reader wants to read one more chapter or understand one more position on an issue from the dad. Essentially, the reader just wants to hear more and revisit concepts and topics. This book starts conversations in the mind with the reader that spill into the consciousness. It accomplishes it goal of guiding the son and starting a dialogue with others.
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Author Bio:
I’ve been pretty much everywhere, living and working all over the United States and half a dozen countries. I’ve been fortunate to meet some amazing people and do some really cool things. I have vast experiences, climbed the socio-economic ladder, and along the way, I’ve picked up key life lessons.
I am a African American Jewish Republican. If that wasn’t complicated enough, I’m an Iraq war veteran who eventually attended an elite university after barely graduating from, no joke, the most dangerous high school in the state of Michigan (at the time). I speak Russian – where no one looks like me and served in Iraq – where some tried to kill me. I was born dirt poor in rural southeast Arkansas, yet smoked cigars with an Ambassador on the official U.S. government yacht in the South Pacific. I have seen and done a lot. Frankly, when I look up irony, the American Dream, and onions in the dictionary, I see myself. As such, I have a unique perspective on personal and professional growth, as well as, duty to and understanding of our country. More importantly, I have insight on how to navigate these issues.
I’m a recovering t-ball coach and father to one amazing son. I’ve worked around the world in both military and corporate capacities. I hold a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University, a master’s degree from the University of Chicago, and a doctorate from the University of Maryland. I also have an associates in Russian language from the Defense Language Institute and I’m a former Army Intelligence Officer. As I am now a dad to a son that I love dearly, I think that passing on knowledge and experience is our responsibility to the next generation.